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Place and Role of Central Asian Turks in the History of Abbasid Egypt R

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Place and Role of Central Asian Turks in the History of Abbasid Egypt R Place and role of Central Asian Turks in the history of Abbasid Egypt R. Ismailov The history of Turkic-Arab ties goes back to the pre-Islamic period and the establishment of the Arab- Moslem state.1 The Arab caliphate saw serious and radical changes in the Turkic-Arab integration that increasingly intensified and assumed a comprehensive form within the framework of the two ethnos development.2 Equally with Arabs and representatives of other nations, Turks played an important role in the creation, formation, strengthening and development of the Islamic civilization. Note that from the very outset relations with Turks were in the focus of attention of the first Abbasid caliphs – Abu-l Abbas as-Saffah (750-754) and, particularly, Abu Jafar al-Mansur (754-775).3 In words of al-Makrizi, medieval chronicler, “al-Mansur was the first caliph to have granted power to Turks within the state system”.4 Besides, he drew Turks in the creation of an army of the latest pattern. His personal guard served as impact force to secure personal safety of caliph and his inner circle. The guard was usually formed of young Turks who came from the Central Asia. It has to be kept in mind that the promotion of the representatives of Turkic ethnos as leading political and military force in the Abbasid caliphate was typical primarily for the centre, though it tended to take place in the remote Arab provinces as well. In this regard, of great interest is the history of Egypt that became a province of the caliphate in North Africa after Abbasids’ advent to power, as did Iraq for Asia.5 The article aims to examine activities of governorgenerals of the Central Asian origin in Abbasid Egypt. The author lays an emphasis on persons that had an enormous impact on the history of the country and its development. Note that there were 78 governor-generals in Abbasid Egypt (750-969), of whom 24, i.e. slightly below than one third, were Turks. However, approx.130 years out of 220 years of the Abbasid rule (750-969), i.e. slightly above half, fell to the share of Turks. Suffice it to say that Abu Salih al-Harasi (779-780) was the first Turkic governor-general of Egypt.6 As the forty seventh governor-general of Egypt, he was in the focus of attention of medieval historians. He was the first governor-general whose past and personal qualities, as well as ethnic roots and genealogy, were referred to in various sources.7 Of interest is the fact that while Turks had previously been perceived as armed force, especially in the first years of Abbasids, later on they were actively drawn in the public administration. Al-Harasi’s appointment by caliph al-Mehdi as governor-general of Egypt was not something new from caliphate’s point of view. That was novelty for the history of Egypt. Al-Harasi proved to be the first one in the long list of Turks ever involved in the public administration in this province of the caliphate. Contributing to this was the fact that Abbasids had for long declined from combat operations against their neighbors, though the Mediterranean coast abounded in fortresses to secure the caliphate against external enemies. Note that a certain part of these fortifications was located on the Egyptian-Byzantine border. Turks General view of the mosque Ibn Tulun. constituted an essential part of the troops whose mission was to patrol the border, and their number kept on rising. The tendency was typical both for the reign of caliph Harun ar- Rashid8 and later on. In the first years of caliph al-Amin (809-833), a newly appointed governor- general of Egypt arrived there under escort of thousands of Turkic soldiers.9 During the reign of caliph al-Mamun (813- 833), the role of Turks in all the spheres of the Egyptian life, including military- political force, increasingly intensified.10 Earlier 832, caliph al-Mamun entrusted a Turk from Sogdiana – Heydar Nasr ibn Abdullah (II. 832-II.834) to act as governor-general of Egypt. Note that the latter headed a 4,000 strong Turkic army, mainly recruited of Bukhara natives.11 As a whole, a new stage of consolidation of Turks not only in Egypt but in other regions of the caliphate started from this date. Turks prospered not only in the military but administrative sphere as well, and thus succeeded in consolidating their position. As for the reign of caliph al-Mutasim (833- 842), Turks rose to higher positions and turned into a leading military-political force both in the army and power structures. Among the first measures of caliph al-Mutasim was that governor-general Heydar Nasr ibn Abdullah who reserved his post of governor-general. Also, the caliph ordered to cease granting subsidies to Arabs.12 Al-Makrizi pointed out: “Commander of the faithful al-Mutasim went under the control of Turks and thus belittled Arabs. He ousted them out of diwan, deleted their names and deprived them of all privileges. Meanwhile, he made Turks as stronghold of the state and seated them at the head of the table”.13 It should be noted that Heydar Nasr ibn Abdullah was followed by his son Muzaffar as governor- general (IV.834-VIII.834). In mid 834, the caliph appointed to this post a well-known Turkic commander Ashnas at- Turki. The latter entrusted, first, Muzaffar, then other persons, with acting as governor-general. Note that Ashnas headed the caliphate’s strongest army, was intimate with the caliph and took active part in the struggle against Byzantine.14 He succeeded in restoring order in Egypt; the same was true of Malik ibn Heydar (I.839-I.841) who was entrusted by Anshas to act as governorgeneral in Egypt.15 As distinguished from his predecessors, caliph al-Mutavakkil (847-861) took unsuccessful attempt to decline from services of Turks in favor of Arabs. This attempt coincided with the period when the caliphate was plunged in disorders and mutiny that, in Th.Noldeke’s words, “gave birth to the start of crisis in the weakened Abbasid caliphate”.16 Governor-generals to Egypt of non-Turkic origin proved to be unable to restore order and tranquility in the country that increasingly aggravated after a victorious campaign of Byzantine in 853. The same year, the last Arab-origin governor-general Anbasa ibn Iskhak (852-856) was replaced by the Turkic-origin commander Yazid ibn Abdallah at- Turki (856-867), following which the political power in the country had finally gone over to Turks. As governor-general, Yazid ibn Abdallah at-Turki took a number of measures to get out of the crisis.17 However, these measures turned out insufficient to solve serious social problems of Egypt in mid-9 century. The popular movement that involved broader masses and all the malcontent increasingly intensified. In 866, the caliph had to dispatch a large army headed by influential Turkic commander Muzahim ibn Khagan (III.867-I.868) who was successful in suppressing the uprising. As a result, caliph al-Mutazz (866-869) appointed him as governor-general in Egypt to replace Yazid ibn Abdallah at-Turki.18 Following Muzahim ibn Khagan’s death, it was, first, his son Ahmed ibn Muzahim ibn Khagan (I.868-III.868) and later Uzdjur at- Turki (III.868-X.868)19 who succeeded to him as governor-generals. The rule of the three governor-generals marked the aggravation of political and social contradictions in the country that lasted up to the establishment of the state of Tulunides (868-905). The state’s title originates in the name of Tulun, father of dynasty’s founder. He came from Turks-Oghuzes20 who, in 200 Hegira (815/816) together with a Scheme of Mosque Ibn Tulun. detachment of young Turks, was presented by the ruler of Bukhara to caliph al-Mamun. Prominent German orientalist A.Miller placed the dynasty of Tulunides on the same level with the dynasties of Aglabides (800-909) and Hamdanides (905-1004), this “famous trinity”, as he put it. In his view, these dynasties (by rights, Ikshidides as well) differed from their origin, activity and destiny standpoint; their common feature was as follows: they were successful in establishing strong state formations in one of the major important regions of the caliphate – emirates and thus protect the local population against long-term revolts and intra-military-political clashes.21 As distinct from other states of the “trinity” – Aglabides and Hamdanides – the state of Tulunides had existed for slightly above 37 years. Below-listed are representatives of the dynasty that headed this state: 1) Ahmed ibn Tulun (868-884); 2) Khumaraveikh ibn Ahmed (884-895); 3) Abu-l Askar Jeish ibn Khumaraveikh (895-896); 4) Harun ibn Khumaraveikh (896- 904); 5) Sheyban ibn Ahmed (904- 905). The state reached its summit during the reign of Ahmed ibn Tulun, founder of the dynasty.22 He won over to his side prominent Turkic commanders from the Central Asia together with the Egyptian court nobility and thus succeeded in consolidating the power and creating a numerous and strong army. In so doing, he managed to unite Syria and Palestine and start conquering Hijaz. In a while, he declined from paying taxes to Baghdad and thus put an end to any relations with the central power. Note that coins came to be minted in 879/880 to symbolize the independence of the state. The coins were of the value of 1 dinar and titled “Ahmedi”.23 Ahmed ibn Tulun died in 884 to leave 17 male individuals, so an impression was that this dynasty Mosque of Ibn Tulun .
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